Richmond Strikers and Virginia Credit Union Align to Expand Access, Name Fields at Striker Park

The Richmond Strikers and Virginia Credit Union have established a partnership that will expand access to youth soccer for children, teens and families and will result in the naming of 11 fields on Pouncey Tract Road as Virginia Credit Union Fields at Striker Park.

Founded in 1975 and later organized as the Richmond Strikers in 1986, the Strikers were founded with the belief to provide unsurpassed individual development, family enrichment and community connection through team sports. The Richmond Strikers youth sports programs support 4,500 players ages 4-19.

The partnership with Virginia Credit Union will enable the Strikers to grow its programming and provide more than $50,000 annually in scholarships allowing nearly 75 players to participate with the Strikers. “Youth sports brings families and communities together,” said Chris Shockley, Virginia Credit Union President/CEO. "We are excited to partner with the Richmond Strikers in this initiative. With thousands of youth and families joining together, Virginia Credit Union Fields at Striker Park represent another way our member-owned credit union can connect with families and our wider community.”

The Richmond Strikers, a 501 c3 organization, are committed to providing the community with an effective, dynamic and progressive athletic experience for children to experience the game of soccer at every level. Striker Park is located at 4801 Pouncey Tract Rd, Glen Allen, VA, and is recognized as one of the finest youth soccer facilities in the country. The complex boasts 11 premium fields with nine natural grass and two synthetic turf fields. The Strikers remain committed to providing a premier experience for all players.

“I’m proud of this partnership and what Virginia Credit Union represents to Strikers members,” said Jay Howell, executive director of the Richmond Strikers. “This partnership enables the continued contribution of youth and families in a world-class experience, access for more players, and growth of the game. Our partnership with Virginia Credit Union will enable us to both continue and expand our scholarship program so that players and families of all income levels can participate.”

The Richmond Strikers are nationally lauded for their management of the Jefferson Cup, one of the nation’s most respected and historic youth soccer tournaments. Hosted annually in March, the Jefferson Cup welcomes more than 1,700 teams, almost 30,000 players from across the United States to Richmond.

As the Richmond region continues to invest and benefit from the surge of sports tourism, the Strikers and the Jefferson Cup generate more than 50,000 hotel room nights resulting in an economic impact gauged to be more than $30 million annually.

“The Richmond Strikers are key drivers for the region’s record-breaking growth and ongoing tourism success,” said Jack Berry, Richmond Region Tourism’s CEO and president. “We know that when families and young athletes visit, they’re excited to compete on the excellent fields at Striker Park and throughout the region. This important partnership means more kids will be introduced to soccer, which is great news for our entire community.”

“Sports tourism is a key pillar to the county’s economic development strategy, and we’ve been pretty successful, with the Richmond Strikers playing a key role in that success. As we continue to develop our growth strategy with new venues and expanded sports and entertainment opportunities for Henrico and our region, the Strikers will continue to be a major player in driving sports tourism,” said Dennis Bickmeier, Executive Director, Henrico Sports and Entertainment Authority. “I’ve been fortunate to work with both the Strikers and Virginia Credit Union over the years, and they are two organizations that focus on community and partnership. I wish them the best on their shared commitment to serving the youth and families of this region.”

The vitality of the Richmond community was central to Virginia Credit Union’s interest in partnership with the Strikers.

“Virginia Credit Union regularly reaches 30,000 young people a year through our financial education efforts in schools and community partner organizations,” explains Shockley. “Reinforcing our community presence through a partnership with the Richmond Strikers is a move that we expect will have broad community impact.”

About Richmond Strikers:

The Richmond Strikers are a non-profit organization founded/established in 1975 that is committed to providing the Greater Richmond area with an effective, dynamic and progressive athletic experience offering a place for children to play their chosen sport. The Richmond Strikers are devoted to providing a developmentally appropriate structure for thousands of children ages 4-18 to experience sports at every level. The Richmond Strikers now have over 4,500 players in travel and recreation programs and are committed to providing quality instruction and programming, as well as first class facilities.

A financial cooperative serving more than 320,000 members, Virginia Credit Union offers a variety of affordable banking services, loans, mortgages, and free financial education resources, with a focus on helping people feel more confident about their finances. Virginia Credit Union is an equal housing opportunity lender and is federally insured by NCUA.